Medieval Fun On The Menu

At Medieval Times, There's Plenty Of Swordplay And Horsemanship To Create Real Excitement For Diners.

June 23, 2004|By Rebecca Swain Vadnie, Sentinel Staff Writer

KISSIMMEE -- A thick blanket of fog hugs the ground and is slowly burning off under the morning sun, covering the odd shapes of motels and discount ticket booths along U.S. Highway 192 in gray. There are giant fake oranges, a long-abandoned "home of the future" and all manner of tricks and gimmicks to catch the eye of a roaming tourist.

At the edge of this odd collection, the stately and familiar vine-covered faM-gade of Medieval Times stands out, its colorful banners unfurled as if to announce that the lord of the manor is in residence.

With the help of dedicated performers, the dinner theater, which was founded by Pedro Montaner, a European viscount, has kept alive for 20 years the era of knights in armor, beautiful ladies and chivalric deeds.

"You can't sit there and not feel it. You just get drawn right into it."

Baker knows from experience. He was drawn into the excitement when he joined the dinner theater as a knight-in-training just one month after it opened in 1984.

Just out of high school and working in construction, he watched the arena go up during his daily commute.

"I was driving by, and my construction knowledge told me it was some kind of stadium," he says. "I'd see guys stick fighting in the yard and the horses . . . that was my favorite thing to read growing up . . . Ivanhoe, El Cid, King Arthur."

He already had one requirement for being a good knight: horsemanship. One of six brothers, Baker was born in North Carolina and raised in Central Florida, growing up in the country surrounded by horses and cattle.

"I don't remember learning to ride," he says. "I just rode."

Within two months, he moved up to being a full-fledged knight and eventually became head knight at the Orlando castle before becoming the director of stunt choreography 31/2 years ago.

Baker, who still performs, lives in Central Florida with his wife, Kerrie, and children Joshua, 18; Jacob, 13; and Paige, 7. He now travels among the eight Medieval Times castles in the United States, training new knights, perfecting the moves and keeping an eye on safety. It's a role he takes seriously, working closely with the 210 knights throughout the country.

Even if the days of lords and ladies have long since passed, Baker knows the allure hasn't faded. "The best part is the little kid about 6 years old with his sword and shield, and he thinks you're a knight."